PS3 video on-demand service set to go

Mike Bantick
Monday, 03 December 2007 06:33

Your IT - Entertainment

Early 2008 is the target date for Sony to introduce video on-demand service for the PlayStation 3.

{mosloadpostition mike}Variety are reporting on Japanese press reports regarding the release of on-demand video services for the PS3 very soon.  Officially launching early next year.

If your Japanese PS3 is hooked up to the internet, you will be able download content direct to the PS3 hard drive.  Actually beginning this year from Dec 6th with a motor racing documentary from the BBC.  There will also be other broomm-broomm video as part of the hype build up for Gran Turismo 5 prologue due 13th of December.

Each download is priced at US$1.85 initially.  The video can be downloaded to the PS3 harddrive, but it is not clear if this will be part of, or incorporated into Play TV scheduled for launch in PAL territories also early next year.

Play TV promises to turn the PS3 into a High Definition twin tuner PVR, capable of integrating with the Sony hand-held Play Station Portable (PSP) for a portable TV experience.

No word yet on the VOD service making its way outside of Japan, Once it arrives on North American shores it will compete directly with the Microsoft Xbox 360 service already available.